stories of a Town – Gilbert, Arizona

What is the Council-Manager Form of Government?

The Town of Gilbert operates under the council-manager form of government.

You may have wondered from time to time: What does this form mean, and how does it benefit the Town of Gilbert?

The council-manager form of government is a structure based on the business CEO/board of directors model, wherein there is a board of directors (in this case, a Town Council) that sets business policy, and a chief executive who is tasked with carrying out that policy (in this case, the town manager).

The manager’s office oversees the day-to-day operations of the town and helps the council achieve the policy goals it identifies. So, whether that’s driving Gilbert to become a technology leader or proactively address infrastructure needs, the manager’s office is there to ensure Gilbert is a best-in-class organization that provides the highest-quality service at the lowest possible cost.

The council-manager form of government is quite common among other communities. In fact, 73 percent of cities, towns and counties across America with populations of 2,500 or more operate under this form. In Arizona, 87 of the 91 cities and towns, and all 15 counties are structured with this model. For more information, visit www.lifewellrun.org or check out this video: